BILL WARD Praises MASTODON Drummer BRANN DAILOR: “That’s The Sign Of A Really Great Drummer”

Legendary Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has shared high praise for Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor, calling him one of the finest drummers working today and applauding his restraint, musical intuition, and world-class ability. Ward made the comments during his January 2026 radio show as part of the LA Radio Sessions, set to air on Saturday, January 10 at noon on 99.1 KLBP-FM in Long Beach, CA.

Reflecting on his first exposure to Dailor‘s playing, Ward explained that he initially connected with the Mastodon drummer through the band’s music rather than in person. “Everything about him—his orchestrations, his jazz, his rock—all of those parts that obviously live inside him are so well put together,” Ward said. “When I heard ‘The Last Baron,’ I was blown away.”

Ward noted that Mastodon’s epic Crack the Skye track has been played repeatedly on his radio show, and that it marked the moment he truly understood Dailor‘s depth as a drummer. “That’s where I really met Brann,” Ward explained. “Listening astutely to where he was going, what he was doing, how he would push, how he would retrieve, how he would give way… I thought, ‘My God, this guy’s really learned how to play drums.'”

Ward went on to stress that truly learning the instrument goes far beyond simply keeping time. “Learning to play drums is not that easy,” he said. “We can all start by banging, but Brann‘s articulation — he’s worthy of all the praise he gets.”

According to Ward, Dailor‘s greatest strength lies in his musical restraint and his ability to serve the song rather than dominate it. “I’ve never heard him overplay a part where he could take something away from another musician,” Ward said. “That’s the sign of a really good fucking drummer.”

He added that Dailor‘s intuition allows space for the rest of the band to breathe. “He knows when not to push,” Ward said. “He allows air to pass through. He allows notes to pass through the other members of the band.”

Drawing parallels to his own experience in Black Sabbath, Ward emphasized the importance of drummers adapting to their bandmates. “That’s what being a drummer is — learning to play with the other musicians,” he said. “I had to learn to play with Tony, Geezer, and Ozzy. You have to be respectful as a drummer, and Brann is respectful.”

Ward closed his remarks by expressing excitement for whatever Dailor does next (which is hopefully a new Mastodon record in 2026). “I can’t wait to hear whatever he’s going to do next. I’m a drummer that loves drummers. So anyway — thanks, Brann.”